Transportable computer

ABSTRACT

A computer which is portable and transportable by a person and which can be used on a table, can also be coupled with a support affording the possibility to use the computer in further operating conditions, particularly for use in vehicles. The support comprises a securing means affixed in the cab of a vehicle as well as a height adjustment arrangement for adjusting the computer&#39;s height in the cab when attached to the support. Also the support includes pivots so the computer is adapted to be pivoted about an upward axis and also a horizontal axis. The support in one embodiment comprises at least two hinges which can be locked by a single clamping means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer, portable and transportableby a person and provided with at least one housing constructed so thatthe computer can be used in an operating condition on a table.

Such known computers are disadvantageous in that they are designed foruse in office spaces and buildings only so that, for entering data, suchtables, statistical data and similar applications belonging to the stateof the art, the use of the computer is limited to the stationarydisposition mentioned. Data must be recorded elsewhere and afterwardsentered into the computer.

An object of the invention is to extend the possibilities of applicationand to prevent loss of time.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the computer can beinstalled in at least one second operating position in which saidcomputer is coupled with at least one easily detachable support.

The scope of the application of the computer is thereby considerablyextended as it then becomes suitable for operation by the driver of avehicle, such as an agricultural tractor. The computer can be used whenthe driver, e.g., plows a field and has to drive over a distance of oneor two kilometers before he must devote his attention to turning thetractor. The computer can also be used by land surveyors, supervisorsand inspectors of outdoor work. The computer can even be operated on theseat (e.g. the rear seat) of a car in motion or at rest.

In this manner the computer can be used directly in the place of workwhere the data are determined and/or where the computer results areneeded; these are mostly places where the possibility of a stationarydisposition by means of a table or the like is lacking.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingslisted below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a computer, mounted on a support according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the computer along line III--III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative possibility of attaching thesupport according to FIG. 1 to the computer;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an agricultural tractor fitted with a computeraccording to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the tractor according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a car fitted with one or more supports for acomputer according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view in the direction of arrow VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a truck fitted with a computer mounted next tothe driver's seat;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a computer placed on a table and consistingof three detachable parts which, however, can be attached one to theother;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the disposition according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a computer mounted in a vehicle according to afollowing embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a view taken in the direction of arrow XIII in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section along line XIV--XIV in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is partially a cross-section and partially a view along lineXV--XV in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 indicates in a side view an application in a tank truck;

FIG. 17 indicates in a side view an application in a combine harvester;

FIG. 18 indicates in a top view an application in an agriculturaltractor;

FIG. 19 indicates in a side view an application in the case of afertilizer distributor drawn by a tractor and

FIG. 20 indicates in a side view an application in a truck.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is based on known computer types provided with a keyboardfor entering a program and data, a screen and possibly a printer coupledwith the computer for recording its data output; if present, such aprinter is regarded as part of the computer. In addition to these knowncomputers other designs are known where another input device is presentbesides the keyboard for switching on certain programs or program partsand for entering data, this device being connected with the remainingpart of the computer mostly by means of a junction cable. Such aseparate manually operated input device is known as a "mouse" and isused, e.g., under the trade name Apple Mackintosh, but the invention isnot restricted to this system and can also be applied on the basis ofother brands on the market.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a computer 1, mounted on a support 2 whichis fastened to the floor or the bottom plate of a vehicle such as anagricultural tractor, car, truck, vessel, airplane or similar mobileunit. The computer 1, which may in principle be in the form of aparallelepiped, is enclosed in a housing 4 with a recess 5 in its topsurface, bridged by a handle 6 by means of which the computer 1 can beeasily carried. The computer housing 4 is about twenty-five centimetersin width, about twenty-five centimters in length and about thirty-fivecentimeters in height; the weight of the computer 1 is about tenkilograms.

The housing 4 encloses a screen 7 and a control unit 8 provided with akeyboard 9 for entering programs and/or data. There is an input opening10 at one side of the housing 4 for the insertion of cassettes such ascassettes with data and/or programs stored therein. Three connectors areplaced next to each other on the same side of the computer for couplingit to an electric power supply--one connector 11 designed for connectionto a 220 V A.C. supply, one connector 12 for connection to a 110 V A.C.supply and one connector 13 for connection to a 12 V or 24 V D.C.supply. The 12 V connection is intended in particular for feeding thecomputer from an electrical storage battery when it is placed in avehicle, such as an agricultural tractor, a car or the like.

The circuits present in the computer are presumed to correspond to thoseof the known personal computers, for which many programs are obtainable.

A part of a universally movable spherical input device 14, provided wtihtriggering means and having a function corresponding to that of theaforementioned "mouse" protrudes from an opening, recessed in the sidewall of the housing 4 visible in FIG. 1. A push-button 15 situated nearthe sphere 14 has a function corresponding to that of the push-button,attached in known computers likewise to the "mouse". The movements andthe position of the sphere 14 can be entered in the computer system bymeans of sensors placed near the sphere. The push-button 15 is mountedin a boundary surface or wall portion 16 of the housing 4 which,regarded in the viewing direction A starting from the lower edge of thescreen 7 (which extends approximately to the top of the housing 4) isdirected over the whole width of the housing 4 slantingly downward andforward and terminates near the back of the fixed keyboard 9. Thekeyboard 9, starting from this lower edge of the surface 16 which,viewed from the side, is preferably curved downward to providesufficient space for a hand controlling of the keyboard, is inclinedrearward and terminates near to or, relative to the direction A (FIG. 1)which points to and is normal to the screen, behind a plane 17 whichcomprises the front of the screen 7. Viewed in the direction A, thekeyboard 9 and the control device 8 thus lies entirely or nearlyentirely behind the face of the screen, so that the computer does nothave any protruding parts. Portabililty is thereby improved and thechance of damaging the computer during transport reduced. The locationof the sphere 14 (by means of which, in combination with the push-button15, certain programs stored in the computer can be indicated on thescreen and activated, and drawings and diagrams displayed on the screen)is such that it can be controlled by the forefinger of a user in frontof the computer, while the thumb of the same hand can control thepush-button 15 situated near the sphere for recording the functions ordrawings indicated by means of the sphere 14.

An adjustable cap 18, U-shaped as viewed in the direction A, is mountednear the screen 7 and extends at least in part along the outer sides andthe edges lying near the screen 7 of the lateral sides and top of thehousing 4. The cap 18 swivels by means of two hinges about a horizontalaxis directed normal to the direction A, a hinge 19 being provided forthis purpose on each side and near the front of the housing 4. Theswivel axis defined by the hinges 19 lies near the lower side of thescreen 7. As viewed from the side (FIG. 1), the shield 18 is in the maintriangular in form. The swivel axis of hinges 19 is situated near thedownward pointing tip of this triangle; the rear (as viewed in thedirection A) boundary line 20 of the cap 18, shown in FIG. 1 in theswung-out position, is parallel to the screen 7, whereas the frontboundary line 21 points slantingly upward and, viewed in the directionA, rearward. The cap 18 is mounted along the boundary line 21 with abuffer edge 22. The cap 18 can be swung about the hinges 19 in thedirection B from its operating position shown in FIG. 1 to a positionwherein the boundary line 21 lies parallel to the screen 7; thisposition is intended for transportation, whereas the position shown inFIG. 1 is intended to facilitate reading from the screen, in particularwhen the angle of incidence of the light, e.g. on a field, is such thatit disturbs the observation of the screen. The cap 18 can be swungmanually about the hinges 19; the friction in the hinges is such as toprevent the cap from being displaced in an undesirable manner by shocks.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at least two--but in this embodimentthree--upwardly directed tubular recesses 23 are provided in the base ofthe housing 4. Viewed in a section parallel to the base, the recesseshave the same polygonal--in this embodiment quadratic--cross section.The center lines of the recesses 23 lie in a common plane normal to thedirection A; the distances between the recesses 23 and the distancesbetween the outermost recesses and the side walls of the housing 4 areapproximately equal. The center of gravity of the computer 1 liesapproximately in the plane passing through the center lines of therecesses 23. The recesses 23 are bounded by infoldings of the wall ofthe housing 4. The depth of each of the recesses 23 is from about fiveto eight centimeters. FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement of therecesses; these are in the form of recesses 24 in vertical ribs 25, thematerial of which is integral with the material of the housing 4. Therecesses 24 are also polygonal--in this case quadratic--in crosssection, but the depth of the recesses 24 can be considerably greaterthan that of the recesses 23, in this case from about twenty to twentythree centimeters. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, there arelikewise three recesses 24 one next to the other and these are alsouniformly distributed over the width of the housing 4.

The computer 1 is supplemented with a support 2 which, though detachablefrom it, can be regarded as in essence belonging to the computer as thesupport considerably extends its fields of application.

The support 2 comprises a base plate 26 (FIG. 1) which, in top view, canbe quadratic or polygonal in outline and is detachably fastened to afloor plate 28 by three bolts 27. The floor plate 28 can be the floorplate of a vehicle, such as a car, an agricultural tractor, a truck orthe like for applications to be explained later in detail. A reinforcingplate 29 provided at the base of the floor plate 28 is clamped by thebolts 27 together with the base plate 26 against the floor plate 28. Thebase plate 26 is covered by the floor-covering 30 of the vehicle. In themiddle of the base plate 26 there is a hole in which a tube 31 isplaced, connected with the base plate by welds around its periphery. Thecenter line of the cylindrical tube 31 points upward, e.g., normal tothe floor plate 28. The height of the tube 31 is preferably such that ithardly protrudes above the floor covering 30. The tube 31 encloses acylindrical pipe 32, sealed on top slightly spherically to facilitatethe installation of a remaining part of the support to be stilldescribed, but which can be open at its base. The center lines of thetube 31 and the pipe 32 coincide. The parts 26, 31 and 32 form a holderwhich can be fixed in the vehicle.

The pipe 32 pointing upward is welded at its base to the base of thetube 31, but it can in principle also be placed loosely in the tube 31.The pipe 32 is from about five to fifteen centimeters in total lengthand protrudes over most of its length above the top of the tube 31. Thepipe serves to center and laterally brace a pipe 33, which pertains tothe support 2. The center line of which coincides with the practicallyvertical center lines of the tube 31 and the pipe 32. The pipe 32 istightly enclosed by the pipe 33 which, when installed, rests with itsbase on the upper surface of the wall of the tube 31.

However, the pipe 33 can easily be slipped off the pipe 32 in the upwarddirection. The pipe 33 can be provided at its base with a boss 34protruding downward into a recess in the top of the wall of tube 31; theboss 34 prevents the pipe 33 from turning relative to the tube 31. Thetotal length of the pipe 33 is from about sixty to seventy centimeters.The pipe 33 is provided on its periphery over its whole length with ascrew-thread 35 and is enclosed, at least over a part of its length, ina pipe 36, provided with an internal screw-thread 37 which fits thescrew-thread of pipe 33. The top of pipe 36 protrudes in general abovethe top of pipe 33. Owing to the presence of the screw-threads 35 and37, pipe 36 is axially displaced relative to pipe 33 when the former isrotated about its center line.

The pipe 36 is fitted at its upper end with two parallel lugs 38 and 39spaced one from the other (FIG. 2) and each provided with a hole so thatthe holes are in line. A clamp in the form of a threaded bolt 40, passedthrough these holes, is fitted with a locking knob 41 in the form of awing nut. The screw-thread on the bolt 40 fits the screw- thread in aprojection 42 fixed on the lug 39 so that the lugs 38 and 39 are benttoward each other when the locking knob 41 is tightened. The bolt 40passes through a hole in a clamp block 43 of rectangular cross section,placed between the lugs 38 and 39. The clamp block 43 is provided at itstop, in a place above the tops of the lugs 38 and 39, with a supportingface in the form of a collar 44, designed to support the weight of thecomputer 1. A peg-shaped prop 45, polygonal--in this embodimentquadratic--in cross section, is arranged on the top of the collar. Theprop 45 is an extension of the clamp block 43 and forms with the collar44 a top portion of the support of one piece of material. The prop 45extends freely upward. The clamping means 40, 41 forms a lockable hinge,the approximately horizontal center line of which crosses the directionA at right angles. The prop 45 is dimensioned so that it closely fitsone of the recesses 23 shown in FIG. 3 or--in the alternative embodimentof FIG. 4--one of the recesses 24. The length of the prop 45 is in thelatter case considerably greater than in the case of the recesses shownin FIG. 3 (and likewise shown in FIG. 1).

The computer can be slid, as desired, with one of the recesses 23 overthe prop 45, so that it can be placed without any assembly work in thespot most favorable from the view-point of the user. The same applies tothe embodiment according to FIG. 4, but the contact face between theprop and the corresponding rib 25 is here larger to shore up the weightof the computer. The depth of the recesses 23 and 24 respectively issuch that the prop 45 placed in them is slightly shorter than the lengthof the recess, so that the weight of the computer rests on thesupporting face of the collar 44, or on a supporting face 46 (FIG. 4),for this embodiment mounted on and forming part of the clamp block 43.

With the aid of the support 2 described above, a computer 1 installed ina vehicle can then be easily adapted to the restricted space availableand to the location of its user. If the computer is installed in a car,in front of the rear seats or in front of the front seats, the eyeheight of the user with respect to the floor of the vehicle isrelatively small. To ensure that the center of the screen 7 lies atabout eye height, the pipes 36 and 33 which are rotatable one relativeto the other are turned with respect to one another until the computerarrives at the desired eye height owing to the axial displacement ofthese pipes. If the clamping means 40, 41 are loosened, the direction inwhich the prop 45 protrudes relative to the direction of the pipes 33and 36 can be adjusted so that the computer is tilted forward orbackward relative to the floor 28 to adapt it to the wishes of the user.As already mentioned, the computer can be moved sideways relative to thesupport 2 and relative to the user by selecting the appropriate one ofthe holes 23 and 24 for the insertion of the prop 45. The computermounted with the support is installed without assembly work.

If the computer is installed in an agricultural tractor where thedistance between the eyes of the driver/user and the floor is usuallygreater than in a car, the support 2 can be extended by moving the pipe36 upward relative to the pipe 33 by turning these pipes with onerespect to the other. The pipes 33 and 36 are dimensioned preferably sothat the center of the screen 7 can be adjusted to distances of from onehundred to one hundred sixty centimeters above the floor.

FIGS. 5 and 6 represent two views of the units 1, 2 (computer andsupport) installed for use in an agricultural tractor. Provision is madein such a case for two possible arrangements, the choice depending onthe preference of the user/tractor driver which, in its turn, can dependamong other factors on the direction of the incident light. In adriver's cab 47, with a driver's seat 48 and a steering device 49, thebase plate 26--mounted with the pipe 31 and possibly the pipe 32 (FIG.1)--is screwed to the floor plate 28 of the tractor cab at both sides ofthe steering device 49. In this embodiment, the base plate 26 is used tothe right of the steering device 49 and the computer is installed bysliding the pipe 33 of the support 2 simply over the pipe 32, adjustingit to the desired height by turning the pipes 33 and 36 one with respectto the other and then placing the computer 1 on the prop 45. The screencan then be adjusted more accurately by means of the clamping means 40,41.

The agricultural tractor constitutes a relatively important part of theconduct of the business and of the production results of plowlandfarming and forms a considerable expense item. It is mainly for thesereasons that an optimization is aimed at of the work to be performed bythe tractor (e.g. the number of hectars plowed per hour). The tractor istherefore provided according to FIGS. 5 and 6 with sensors 50, 51 and 52for receiving data designed to determine the fuel consumption per unittime, the distance covered per unit time or the slip of the drivenwheels--data which are worked out in a processing unit included for thispurpose in the computer. These data are stored in the memory and madeavailable eventually by means of a printer. The tractor is also fittedwith an aerial 53 for television reception, so that the driver can takenote on his screen 7 of weather reports, teletext data and the like.

The car illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is similarly mounted with at leastone base plate 26, fastened to the floor plate of the vehicle. In theembodiment shown, a first base plate 26 is attached to the floor near afront seat 54 placed next to the driver's seat, a second base plate 26being fixed on the floor of the car near the vertical plane oflongitudinal symmetry of the vehicle directly in front of a rear seat55. The computer 1 provided with the support 2 can therefore be placedas desired in a simple and reliable manner on an appropriately selectedpipe 32 without any installation work and can be removed just as simply.This application is of importance for entering and processing dataduring business trips and field measurements (e.g. by land surveyors,supervisors and inspectors of outdoor work, such as performed by thebuilding industry), the recording of the number of man-hours worked andthe like. The installation of a unit of computer 1 and support 2 in atruck, such as disclosed in FIG. 9, finds a similar application, theunit being mounted in front of the seat situated next to the driver'sseat. With this application it is possible to consider the recording ofdelivery times, type of delivery, amounts delivered, time spent indriving, but also of data resulting from surveying, the graphic workingout of such results, and the like.

After the return of the vehicle the computer 1, with or without thesupport 2, can be removed from the vehicle by means of the handle 6 andcan be placed in the home or at the office on a table, whereupon furtherprocessing can be performed. A printer can be connected here to thecomputer to record the desired data on paper, but the computer 1 as suchcan also be provided with a printer.

The invention also extends to a unit of computer 1 and support 2 wherethe computer 1 is made up of various main parts which can be separatedfrom each other and where the computer comprises a printer. Such anarrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, where the computer 1comprises a keyboard housing 56 with the major portion of the electroniccircuit, a screen housing 57 and a printer 58. As appears from FIG. 10,the width--as viewed in the direction A (FIG. 11)--of the housing 56which comprises the keyboard is the greatest so that the screen 57 andthe printer 58 can be placed preferably one next to the other on theupper surface of the housing 56 without protruding on either side beyondthis housing. The screen housing 57 and the printer 58 are detachablymounted on the housing 56. The base of the screen housing 57 and that ofthe printer housing 58 are for this purpose mounted with a recess 59having the same cross-sectional dimensions as two recesses 60 providedin the top of the housing 56. The two recesses 60 in the top of thehousing 56 are spaced one from the other (FIG. 10), one of the recesses60 lying in the working condition in the continuation of the recess 59of the printer 58 and the other recess 60 in the continuation of therecess 59 in the screen housing 57. The recesses 59 and 60 arepolygonal--e.g., octagonal--in cross-section. To interconnect the threemain parts so that they cannot be shifted sideways, a closely fittingpeg 61 of polygonal (e.g., octagonal) cross-section is inserted in eachof the two recesses 60 in the housing 56. These pegs protrude above theupper surface of the housing 56 to such an extent that they fill therecess 59 in the printer 58 and the recess 59 in the screen housing 57to nearly their entire depth. The screen 57 and the printer 58 cantherefore be optionally mounted, relative to the center line of thecorresponding peg 61, in angularly different positions with respect tothe housing 56 and can be removed only by lifting.

In the base of the housing 56 or next to its back wall, recesses areprovided analogous to the recesses 23 and 24 shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4respectively. Handles 62, integral with the material of thecorresponding housing, are provided on the back sides of each of thehousings 56, 57 and 58 so that each of the three main parts of thecomputer 1 can be carried separately. If the computer 1 shown in FIGS.10 and 11 installed on a table (e.g., in an office) is to be placed in avehicle, the screen 57 and the printer 58 are removed from the housing56 by simply lifting them off the later, each of the pegs 61 sliding outof the recesses 59 in the parts 57 and 58. The support 2 is then slidover the pipe 32 of the holder in the vehicle and the housing 56 isplaced on the prop 45 of the support 2, making use of one of therecesses 23. The screen 57 is then placed in the described position,laterally immovably, on the housing 56 by means of the peg 61 protrudingfrom the top of the latter and inserted in the recess 59 in the housing57; the housing 58 of the printer is handled analogously. Thecombination of the computer parts shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 can thus beused in each of the applications described above. The holders 26, 31 and32 mounted in the vehicle do not restrict (without the computer mountedon them) the sitting- or floor space.

The computer 1 is in general a normal personal computer for which manystandard programs are available, but the invention is also applicable tocomputers designed for special purposes.

The possibilities of application of a computer can in this manner beconsiderably extended as the known computers can be used in essence onlyon a table in a stationary working environment (home or office) and allthe facilities offered by the computer, such as the editing of texts,the compilation of overviews (e.g., with the aid of tables derived fromthe computer), the production of statistical data and the composition ofdrawings are tied to this stationary placement. Data collected elsewheremust be brought to the computer and data produced by the computer mustbe conveyed to the place where the results are applicable; the loss oftime involved results in extra costs. The application of the computercan now be considerably extended in accordance with the invention ifthis is applied in vehicles such as agricultural tractors, cars andtrucks so that data obtained in the field can be directly entered in thecomputer without loss of time, while the computer results originatingtherefrom and possibly obtained in combination with data previouslyentered are likewise directly available and can be utilized. Thisapplies in particular to the use by the driver of an agriculturaltractor during his work on the field, but also to applications forsurveyors, supervisors and inspectors of outdoor work when the computeris installed next to a seat in a car or truck so that it is possible notonly to operate the input devices, such as a keyboard, but also to makeuse of a screen and a printer in a mobile arrangement without being tiedto an office space or the like.

The addition of a support and the adaptation of the computer housing tothis support results in a simple manner in the considerable enlargementof the number of places where the computer can be used and in theexclusion of loss of time and unnecessary man-hours.

In FIG. 12 an embodiment is shown in side view of a computer 101 whichas a whole rests on a support 102 attached to the floor or bottom plate103 of a vehicle, such as an agricultural tractor, a car, a truck,vessels, airplanes or similar mobile units. The computer 101 has ahousing 104 substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped and providedon its upper surface with a recess 105 bridged by a handle 106 by meansof which the computer 101 can be easily arranged and displaced. In thecase of this embodiment the housing 104 is likewise about twenty fivecentimeters in width, about twenty five centimeters in length and aboutthirty five centimeters in height, the weight of the computer 101 beingapproximately ten kilograms.

The housing 104 encloses the edges of a screen 107 and a control device108 for entering programs and/or data, provided for this purpose with akeyboard 109. At one side of the housing 104 there is an input opening110 for the insertion of cassettes such as diskettes with data and/orprograms stored therein. The computer 101 can in this embodiment belikewise fed preferbly by three alternative power supplies; there is aconnector for 220 V A.C., a connector for 110 V A.C. and a connector for12 V or 24 V D.C. The latter connector is designed in particular for thesupply of the computer from an electrical storage battery while it isinstalled in a vehicle, such as an agricultural tractor, a car or thelike.

The circuits present in the computer are presumed to correspond to thoseof the known personal computers for which many programs are obtainable.

The front of the computer is occupied near its upper surface to aconsiderable extent by the screen 107. The front continues from thelower edge of the screen in the form of a boundary surface or wallportion 111 of the housing 104. Regarded in the viewing direction B(FIG. 12), the wall portion 111 starting from the lower edge of thescreen 107 is directed over the whole width of the housing 104slantingly downward and forward and terminates near the back of thefixed keyboard 109. Starting from the lower edge of the surface 111which, viewed from the side, is preferably curved downward to providesufficient space for a hand controlling the keyboard 109, the keyboardcontinues rearward and terminates near to or, relative to the directionB, just behind a plane 112 which comprises the front of the screen 107.

Viewed in the direction B, the keyboard 109 and the control unit 108thus lie in this embodiment likewise entirely or nearly entirely behindthe upper edge of the screen, so that the computer does not have anyprotruding parts. Portability is thereby improved and the chance ofdamaging the computer during transport reduced.

A control member 113, which has a function analogous to that of theafore-mentioned control unit 108, is placed next to the keyboard 109. Bymeans of this control member 113 it is possible to indicate, by an arrowdisplayed on the screen 107, computer programs or functions, but withthe aid of this input device it is also possible to display drawings orfigures on the screen 107. This indication of programs or functions andthe display of figures on the screen is effected by rotating a sphere114, provided with triggering means, about its center. The sphere can beswivelled in all directions and is surrounded over a large part of itssurface by sensors (FIG. 14) which register the movements of the sphere;this registration can be stored subsequently in the computer memory. Thesensor 115 and the greater part of the sphere are inside the computerhousing. The sphere 114 is mounted with a lever 116 rigidly connectedwith the sphere and pointing upward. The lever is mounted on its topwith a push-button 117. In case the sphere 114 was moved about itscenter by means of the lever 116 and this movement was displayed on thescreen, and if thereby a program or function indicated on the screen waspointed out, this choice can be stored in the computer memory bydepressing the push-button 117. This also applies to drawings producedon the screen 107 by the rotation of the sphere.

Since the input member 113 is mounted as a whole fixedly with respect tothe housing 104 and is nevertheless provided with the possibility ofmoving the sphere in the desired manner about its center, the user isnot tied to the presence of a flat surface such as the top of a table toroll the sphere over it. Owing to the firm placement of the input member113 as a whole, the user is not disturbed during its operation byacceleratios which could unfavorably affect the movement of the spherein case the computer is installed by means of the support 102 in amoving vehicle. The manually effected movements of the lever 116,transferred to the sphere 114, can be performed without disturbance ifthe user lets another part of his hand rest on the edge of the keyboardor of the housing 104.

The design of the support 102 is shown in detail in FIG. 14. The support102 comprises a base plate 118 which, in plan view, is rectangular orpolygonal in contour and in this embodiment is fastened detachably tothe floor plate 103 by means of a number of bolts 119. The floor plate103 can be the floor plate of a vehicle, such as a car, an agriculturaltractor, a truck or the like for applications to be later explained indetail. The base plate 118 is covered by the floor-covering 120 of thevehicle. In the center of the base plate 118 there is a hole in which atube 121 is placed, connected with the base plate 118 by means of weldsaround its circumference. The center line of the pipe 121 points upward,preferably normal to the floor plate 103. The tube 121 protrudespreferably only a little above the floor covering 120. A small plate 122of spring steel, placed against the inside of the tube 121 in the spaceenclosed by the latter, is attached near its bottom to the inner wall ofthe tube 121, e.g. by point welding, and is directed upward from thispoint of attachment. The plate 122 rests near its upper end against thecollar of a locking button 123 which protrudes outside the tube 121through an opening in the wall of the latter.

The tube 121 is enclosed in the assembled state by a supporting pipe124, the bottom of which extends to the top of the base plate 118. Thecenter line of the supporting pipe 124 is preferably normal to the floorplate 103. In the supporting pipe 124 an opening is provided at theheight of the locking button 123 through which the latter can protrude.When the supporting pipe 124 is slipped over the tube 121 and pusheddownward, its bottom will push the locking button 123 inward against thespring tension of the plate 122; when the bottom of the supporting pipe124 reaches the base plate 118, the opening in the supporting pipe 124will have just arrived at the height of the locking button 123 so thatthe latter can, under the effect of the spring tension of the plate 122,pass outward through the opening in the supporting plate 124 and thelatter will be secured against both axial displacement and rotationrelative to the tube 121. The total length of the supporting pipe 124 isfrom about sixty to seventy centimeters.

The upper portion of the supporting pipe 124 is tightly enclosed by acarrying pipe 125 which can be shifted axially relative to thesupporting pipe 124. The center lines of the two cylindrical pipes 124and 125 coincide. A clamping means 126, mounted with a manually operatedwing nut 127, is provided near the bottom of the carrying pipe 125. Thelatter can be secured by means of the clamping means in several axiallydifferent positions relative to the supporting pipe 124. The mutualshiftability of the pipes 124 and 125 is indicated by the arrows 128.

A helical compression spring 129 is mounted in the space enclosed by thepipes 124 and 125, with its lower end bearing against the top of thepipe 121 and with its upper end against a lid 30 of the carrying pipe125. The compression spring 129 tends to displace the pipe 125 upwardrelative to the pipe 124 and serves as a weight-relieving spring tofacilitate the mutual displacement of the pipes 124 and 125 under theweight of the computer when the clamping means 126 is in an inoperativestate. Between the lid 130 and the top of the tube 121 there is a stopin the form of a flexible cord 131 which in its stretched state has alength such that the pipe 125 cannot be slid off the pipe 124 bymistake; with the cord 131 in its stretched state, the pipe 125 overlapsthe pipe 124 to such an extent that it can still be propped by thelatter in a stable manner.

A part of the periphery of the carrying pipe 125 situated near its topis encircled by a tubular portion 132 of a holder or swivelling arm 133.This tubular portion 132 is, viewed axially with respect to the carryingpipe 125, fixed by means of a pin 134 placed tangentially relative tothe portion 132 and to the carrying pipe 125. The pin 134 lies with partof its side facing the carrying pipe 125 in a circular groove 135 in thepart of the carrying pipe lying inside the tube 132. The tubular portion132 can therefore be rotated through an angle of 180° relative to thepipe 125, but cannot be shifted axially. A cylindrical portion 136 ofthe swivelling arm 133, integral with the tubular portion 132, projectssideways horizontally with respect to the tubes 124 and 125. The end ofthe cylindrical portion 136 opposite the pipe turns into an upwardpointing tubular portion 137 of the holder 133, spaced from the pipe125.

The center line 138 of the cylindrical portion 136 intersects the centerline of the two pipes 124 and 125, indicated by the reference number139, at right angles. The center line 141 of the tubular portion 137 ofthe holder 133, provided with a bore 140, coincides with the center lineof the bore 140 which is parallel to the center line 139 and intersectsthe center line 138 of the cylindrical portion 136 at right angles. Theupper end of the portion 137 of the holder 133 is tubular and isupwardly open. This upper part encloses in a suitable manner the tubularbottom part of a clamping piece 142 which forms parts of a swivellingarm or carrying piece 143 of the support 102.

The clamping piece 142 is provided with a bore 144 which forms in theassembled state an extension of the bore 140 in the tubular portion 137.The clamping piece 142 of the carrying piece 143 is integral with acylindrical portion 145 of the carrying piece 143 formed similar to thecylindrical portion 136 of the holder 133. The center line 146 of thecylindrical portion 145 intersects the center line 141 of the bores 140and 144 at right angles.

The cylindrical portion 14 of the swivelling arm 143 turns on its sideopposite to the clamping piece 142 into a bearing 147. The inner surface148 of the bearing 147 is spherical and encloses part of a sphere largerthan half a sphere. The inner surface 148 turns at its top into anupwardly diverging conical surface 149.

The inner surface 148 surrounds with a tight clearance a footstep 150 ofsteel or plastic in the form of the larger part of a sphere. Thefootstep 150 turns on top into a cylindrical rod 151, the diameter ofwhich is selected so that, when the spherical footstep 150 swivels aboutits center, the rod 151 can swing over an angle of from about 10° to 20°from the vertical before its outer surface touches the conical surface149 linearly. The rod 151 is integral not only with the footstep 150 butpreferably also with a supporting plate 152 at the end of the rod 151opposite the footstep. The supporting plate 152 extends in a directionat right angles to the center line 153 of the rod 151 and has acylindrical outer surface 154 coaxial with the center line 153. Theupper surface of the supporting plate 152 opposite the footstep 150abuts an upwardly curved portion 155 of the base plate 178 of thehousing 104 of the computer 101. The supporting plate is enclosed on itsside facing the keyboard 109 as well as on its edges contiguous with thelatter side and over the greater parts of its base by a holder 156 inthe form of a beaded plate, attached outside the periphery of thesupporting plate 152 by means of bolts 157 to the part 155 of thecomputer base plate 178. As regards the form of the holder 156,reference is also made to FIG. 15. As appears from the latter, theportion of the holder 156 lying at the base of the supporting plate 152has a recess 158 in the part of the holder plate 156 lying in front ofthe rod 151 as viewed in the direction B. This recess has a width suchthat the rod 151 can be slid out of the holder 156 from the positionshown in FIG. 15. However, in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 14 and 15the rod 151 is prevented from sliding out of the holder in the directionB by a leaf spring 159 mounted, as viewed in the direction B, in frontof the supporting plate 152 and abutting with its edge 160 against theouter surface 154 of the supporting plate 152. the spring 159 is rigidlyfixed with its end distant from the edge 160 to the bottom side of theportion 155 of the base plate 178 of the computer housing 104.

The portion 155 of the base plate lying directly above the spring 159 isrecessed upward in such a manner that, when the spring 159 is bentagainst its resilience upward into this recess, it comes to lie entirelyabout the upper surface of the supporting plate 152 and the latter,together with the rod 151, the sphere 150 and the support 102, can beslid out of the holder 156 so that the computer 101 is detached from thesupport 102. The recessed portion 155 of the base plate 178 of thehousing 104 is curved upward with respect to the remaining part of thebase plate in such a manner, that the base of the holder 156 lies abovethe plane of this remaining part. This flat remaining part extends tothe front of the computer and on both sides to the portion 155 so thatthe computer can rest on a table in a stable manner.

The bores 140 and 144 in the tubular portion 137 and in the clampingpiece 142 respectively enclose a clamping means in the form of a rod 161(FIG. 14). An annular pressure block 162, abutting against the bottom ofthe tubular portion 137, likewise encloses the rod 161 and has acylindrical recess 163 in its lower part, through which the rod 161protrudes downward from the pressure block 162. The rod 161 is providedat its lower end with a handle 164, rigidly connected with the rod. Theuppermost end of the rod 161 lies in a recess 165 provided in the upperend of the clamping piece 142 and surrounding the center line 141. Thisuppermost end of the rod 161 is provided with a screw-thread. A nut 166screwed onto this thread is narrowly enclosed by the boundary of therecess 165 so that it cannot turn with respect to the clamping piece142.

A conical clamping piece 167, surrounding the rod 161, is placed insidethe tubular portion 137 at the height of the center line 138 in the bore140 and is loaded at its lower end by a compression spring 168 whichabuts against a shoulder of the rod 161. A conical clamping piece 169 isplaced at the height of the center line 146 and inside the bore 144 inan analogous manner and forced upward by a compression spring 170. Thiscompression spring abuts with its lower end against another shoulder ofthe rod 161. Each of the two clamping pieces 167 and 169 has a conicalouter surface converging upward. Both clamping pieces enclose the rod161 with a narrow fit.

Bores 171 and 172 provided about the center lines 138 and 146respectively emerge on the one hand in the bores 140 and 144respectively and on the other hand in the outer circumference of theuppermost part of the carrying pipe 125 and the footstep 150respectively. Each of the bores 171 and 172 contains a cylindricalsliding piece 173 and 174 respectively, fitting the corresponding boreand at one end fittingly abutting against the clamping pieces 167 and169 respectively and at their other ends fittingly abutting against theouter circumference of the carrying pipe 125 and the footstep 150respectively.

If the handle 164 is operated so that the rod 161 is screwed upward withrespect to the nut 166, the clamping pieces 167 and 169 will be pushedupward via the compression springs 168 and 170 respectively. The axialsliding pieces 173 and 174 fittingly abut against the conical outersurfaces of the corresponding clamping pieces 167 and 169 respectively.If these clamping pieces are pushed upward by the rod 161 moving upward,the sliding pieces or fixing means 173 and 174 are forced toward thecarrying pipe 125 and the footstep 150 respectively. The carrying pipe125 as well as the footstep 150 is thus by a single action fixed byfriction with respect to the holder 133 and the carrying piece 143respectively. Owing to the force of reaction, the fixing means 173 and174 press likewise against the clamping pieces 167 and 169 which are intheir turn pressed against the rod 161 so that the swivelling arm 133and 143 are fixed one with respect to the other. If the rod 161 isscrewed downward with respect to the nut 166, both the lockingsmentioned are released simultaneously. The presence of the springs 168and 170 makes it unnecessary to position the clamping pieces 167 and 169very accurately.

The swivelling arms 133 and 143 are rotatable about the center line 141one with respect to the other. During the swivelling action the holder133 and the carrying piece 143 remain in contact along a face betweenthe two. A pin 175, lying in part in the uppermost tubular portion 137of the holder 133 and in part in an annular groove 176 in the lowesttubular portion of the clamping piece 142 prevents the holder 133 fromshifting axially with respect to the carrying piece 143 but permitsmutual swivelling about the center line 141.

If, as described above, the rod 161 is screwed upward with respect tothe nut 160, the clamping piece 142 is forced in a direction parallel tothe center line 141 against the tubular portion 137 at the annularcontact face 177 between these parts. The swivelling arms 133 and 143are thereby likewise fixed with one respect to the other. The contactface 177 is preferably roughened.

It follows that by tightening or loosening the handle 164 not only isthe swivelling arm 133 clamped with respect to the carrying pipe 125 andthe swivelling arm 143 clamped with respect to the footstep 150, butalso the holder 133 is clamped with respect to the carrying piece 143.The operation of the handle 164, in other words an axial shifting of therod 161, thus results in a threefold action. With the rod 161 rotated sothat it moves downward, the carrying piece 143 can be swivelled aboutthe center line 141 with respect to the holder 133 as the contactpressure at the face 177 is reduced. The center lines 138 and 146 remainin parallel planes situated at right angles to the center line 141.

To sum up, when clamping means 126 is loosened, the carrying pipe 125(and thereby the computer 101 mounted on the support 102) can be shiftedup and down with respect to the supporting pipe 124. By operating theclamping means 161, 164, 167, 169, 173 and 174, with the rod 161 beingscrewed downward, it becomes possible:

1. to swing the swivelling arm 133 with respect to the carrying pipe 125about the center line 139 (first hinge),

2. to swing the swivelling arm 143 with respect to the holder 133 aboutthe center line 141 (second hinge),

3. to swing the footstep 150 and thereby the whole computer 101 withrespect to the swivelling arm 143 (third pivot).

The three swivelling possibilities of the hinges are cancelled byoperating the handle so that the rod 161 is screwed upward, the mutualpositions being fixed in the desired manner by frictional forces.

In addition, with the leaf spring 159 moved upward the computer 101 canbe slid out of the holder 146 in the direction B and thereby detachedfrom the support 102.

The support 102 is dimensioned so that the carrying piece 143 and theholder 133 do not project beyond the periphery of the computer 101 inthe positions of the support 102 most frequently considered. Thecomputer 101 can be moved to its most extrem position with respect tothe tube 121 by swinging the swivelling arm 143 from the position shownin FIG. 14 about the center line 141 over an angle of 180° with respectto the swivelling arm 133.

The support 102 thus offers a universal possibility of adjustment of thecomputer 101 with respect to the tube 121; these possibilities are ofimportance especially when the computer is installed in the restrictedspace of a vehicle, so that all possibilities are present to adjust theposition of the keyboard 109 and the screen 107 to the position of theoperator (who sits in the driver's seat or in another place in thevehicle).

The hinges of the support 102 and the shiftability 124, 125 offer fourdegrees of freedom for this purpose, and by the presence of thespherical bearing 147, 150 essentially more than four degrees offreedom.

The support 102 is made at least in part of a flexible plastic.Especially the swivelling arms 133 and 143 can be made of a resilient,tough type of synthetic resin so that the computer will be less subjectto acceleration peaks caused by shocks or vibrations of the vehicle.

Besides installing the computer in the vehicle by means of the support102, it remains possible to use it on a table in an industrial plant orin an office. In this connection it should be noted that the upwardlycurved portion 155 of the base plate of the computer housing 104occupies only a restricted part of the base plate indicated by referencenumeral 178. As appears from FIG. 15, the flat part of the base plate178, by which the computer can be supported on a table, extends not onlyover the portion underneath the keyboard 109, but also to both sides ofthe holder 156 up to the back of the computer 101; the base of theholder 156 lies at a shirt distance above the base of the base plate178.

As a possibly disturbing effect of light incident on the screen 107 canplay a considerable part when the computer is used in vehicles, thepicture screen is positioned in this embodiment tilted downward andforward with respect to its upper edge by an angle of about 20° andlies, viewed in the direction B (FIG. 12), in front of a protruding edge179 of the housing 104. Viewed in the vertical direction, the screen 107lies nearly right above the keyboard 109. The protruding edge 179 liesnearly right above the edge of the keyboard 109 facing the user.

The computer 101 can be mounted with a preferably built-in printer forrecording the data obtained in the vehicle and entered in the computer.These data can be obtained by means of sensors still to be described.

As an undesirable excessive heating of the computer can be caused byincident sun light while the computer is used in the field or in avehicle, it is suggested that the computer housing, in particular theupper wall of the computer, be provided with an insulating layer mountedon the impact-resistant housing of synthetic resin. However, thisinsulating layer can also be mounted on the side walls and the rearwall. Such an insulating layer is of importance especially because thetemperature to which the electronic components may be subjected islimited.

Parts of the housing 104 are preferably likewise provided with aresilient layer, mounted in particular on the edges of the housing andalso around the handle 106. As the computer is operated in a vehicle ina restricted space, the chance that the operator or another personknocks against it is relatively great, to the detriment of both thecomputer and the person. In this connection it should be noted that,with a right choice of material, the afore-mentioned insulating layerand the resilient layer can be combined in a single type of material.Reference is made here to known foam plastics used in particular as baselayers for roof coverings and combining both properties.

An application of the computer mounted on the support 102 in the cab ofa truck is shown in FIG. 16 for a tank-truck 180 delivering or fetchingliquids, the computer being installed in the cab 181 of the truck. Asensor 182 for measuring the quantity of liquid passed per unit time orthe total quantity of liquid passed can in this case be placed near thedischarge opening of the tank, but a sensor 183 can also be consideredfor recording the changing weight of the tank with content as loadingthe rear wheels 184. The sensor 182 and/or 183 is connected to thecomputer enabling the driver to ascertain by means of the screen 107 orthe printer the in-flowing or out-flowing quantities or weights of theload. The print-out can serve as proof of delivery and as bookkeepingvoucher; however, the data are also retained in the computer memory atthe disposal of the cartage contractor's accountancy. As a matter ofcourse, this method of use is also applicable to trucks with variableload. In case the computer 101 is installed by means of the support 102in the cab 185 of a combin harvester 186 (FIG. 17), the weight of thegrain in the storage space can be measured by means of a sensor 187, butthe losses of grain near the end of the tractor can also be measured bymeans of a sensor 188 and registered in the computer in order todetermine the efficiency of the thrashing process.

If the computer 101 is installed by means of its support 102 in the cabof an agricultural tractor (FIG. 18), a sensor 190 can be placed neareach transverse end of a soil working implement, in this case a harrowwith tooth-like tools rotating about vertical axes. Such sensors 190 inthe form of known soil humidity detectors can be used with advantage inthis case. The sensors 190 are mounted near the front--as viewed in thedirection of travel C--of the soil-working implement. While harrowing inthe direction of travel C, the sensors 190 are in contact with the soilnot harrowed as yet and having at its surface a humidity lower than thedirectly adjacent strip of soil already harrowed. By driving the tractorso that one of the sensors 190 registers and shows on the screen of thecomputer 101 as far as possible alternately a lower or higher humidity,the driver can steer accurately along the strip of soil previouslyharrowed.

In case a fertilizer distributor 192 is coupled to an agriculturaltractor (FIG. 19), one or several sensors 193 can be installed in aplace where the weight of the fertilizer container rests on the wheels194 of the distributor. In this manner the sensor 193 measurescontinuously the reduction of weight in the container and thereby thequantity of fertililzer distributed. These data can be entered in thecomputer and form part of the seed-bed preparation cost. These cost canbe worked out after return by detaching the computer 101 from thesupport 102 and placing it on a table in an office for furthercalculations.

In the application according to FIG. 20, an optical reading device 195is placed near the unloading opening of a truck, the computer 101mounted on the support 102 being installed in the cab 196 of the truck.When loading or unloading objects such as crates or boxes 197, thedevice 195 can count the number of boxes loaded or unloaded. The opticalreading device can also detect the data of a stripcode on the objects197, whereby the nature of the freight being handled can be entered inthe computer. The computer 101 can be detached from the support 102after return, and the data entered can then be worked out, e.g.,likewise for costing purposes or for loading checks, on a table placedin an office.

The foregoing description is for clearness of understanding and nounnecessary limitations should be concluded therefrom for modificationsand equivalent structures will be obvious in view of this disclosure tothose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinventive concepts, as set forth in the following claims.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and to be secured byLetters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A computer of a type which isportable and transportable by a person of ordinary strength,comprising:a. at least one housing having a base constructed so that thecomputer can be used in an operative position and provides means for thecomputer to be detachably combined with and secured to a part of avehicle; b. a support comprising at least one securing means forsecuring the computer to the vehicle's floor, said support beingpermanently affixed to the vehicle floor of the vehicle's cab; and c.said support further comprises a height adjustment means for selectivelyadjusting the height of the computer with respect to the floor of thevehicle cab and pivot means arranged so that the computer is adapted tobe pivoted about an upward axis and also about a substantiallyhorizontal axis.
 2. A computer according to claim 1 wherein said supportextends upwardly and said pivot means comprises a spherical hinge at itsupper end.
 3. A computer according to claim 2 wherein said supportcomprises at least two hinges and a single clamping means for lockingsaid two hinges in fixed positions relative to each other.
 4. A computeraccording to claim 3 wherein at least one said hinge is lockable bymeans of frictional forces.
 5. A computer according to to claim 1wherein said height adjustment means comprises a slidable part extendingupwardly.
 6. A computer according to claim 1 wherein said heightadjustment means is disposed between said mounting means and saidsecuring means in a said cab which is part of an agricultural tractor.7. A computer according to claim 1 comprising a connection for aelectric power supply of 12 Volts D.C., and further connections forelectric power supplies of 220 Volts and 110 Volts A.C.
 8. A computer asclaimed in claim 1 further comprising a carrying handle attached to thecomputer housing's top surface, said carrying handle providing means bywhich the computer can be easily carried.
 9. A computer of a type whichis portable and transportable by a person of ordinary strength,comprising;a. at least one housing having a base constructed so that thecomputer can be used either in a stand-alone mode on a table or mountedin a vehicle. b. a support means for supporting the computer in avehicle, said support means permitting adjustment of the computer in atleast one direction with respect to the vehicle, c. a fixing meansattached to an upper end of said support means for detachably securingthe computer to said support means, said fixing means providingadjustment in at least one direction of computer movement with respectto the vehicle; d. a locking means for rigidly holding said fixing meansin position following adjustment; and e. a base attachment meansattached to said vehicle's floor for detachably securing said supportmeans.
 10. A computer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said support meanspermit vertical and radial adjustments in the position of the computer.11. A computer as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a carryinghandle attached to the computer housing's top surface, said carryinghandle providing means by which the computer can be easily carried.